Smartphone as „ignition key“ for rail and public transport

The decision which mode of transport to choose was formally decided mainly on the acquis. Especially for younger generations and those from the cities this behavior changes. The smartphone provides transparency and comparability and thus enables individual mobility information for passengers – for all modes of transport. The article deals in particular on the impact of smartphone / app use for the railway and public transport sector. It is an additional business potential but also a threat, as digital mobility and data transparency of the transport market changes the industry more and more from a seller's market to a buyer's market. Via mobility platforms new providers (IT companies, automobile companies) have been entering the market. In the article open points are addressed (broadband access, Big Data use, Open Data, etc.), which should be solved by public transport and rail industry for a forward-looking orientation in the digital age.